A CONTROVERSIAL plan for 44 homes at a derelict Sunbury site has been thrown out to the delight of campaigners, but developers have vowed to appeal.

In an example of 'people power', Spelthorne Borough Council made it clear it could not ignore the strong opposition to the plans for the former Metropolitan Police Training Centre in Green Street, despite officers recommending the proposals for approval.

Linden Homes submitted an application for 44 dwellings comprising houses and apartments, with parking, to be accessed from Green Street.

Eight members of the council’s planning committee voted for the proposals to be refused, which was met by rapturous applause from campaigners in the public gallery.

Four councillors voted for the proposals to be approved and two abstained.

Darryll Clarke-Teal, a member of the Police College Development Action Group, who lives in Maryland Way, said: “I am really happy that the battle is won but the war is not over. I am fed up with the constant barrage of applications affecting Lower Sunbury.”

Campaigner Catherine Wood, who lives in Thames Street, said: “I’m delighted, I thought the ward councillors spoke very well in support of residents. We need to preserve our village community.”

A spokesman for Linden Homes said: “We are disappointed that the planning committee voted to refuse our application, despite officers' recommendation to approve.

“We had spent many months talking to residents, councillors and officers – and had made significant changes to our proposals – in an effort to submit a scheme that fully complied with Spelthorne’s policy guidelines.

“We intend to submit an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate against the committee’s decision to refuse our scheme and consider that we have an excellent prospect of success given that the council officers' report concluded the scheme was fully policy compliant.”

The application was rejected on the grounds of traffic, access, the level of concern from people in the area, impact on the conservation area and density of the proposed housing.